Wednesday, September 17, 2008

On the eve of Juventus's UEFA Champions League Group H opener against FC Zenit St. Petersburg, coach Claudio Ranieri said he was "curious" to see how far his side had come in the last 12 months.

FightbackMuch water has passed under the bridge since the Bianconeri last appeared on Europe's biggest stage, in a 2005/06 quarter-final defeat by Arsenal FC. After Juventus spent the following season in Serie B, Ranieri replaced Didier Deschamps and guided La Vecchia Signora to third place in Serie A last term. Their return ticket to the élite was rubber-stamped by August's 5-1 aggregate thrashing of FC Artmedia Petržalka in the third qualifying round.

'Experience'"In our first season back in Serie A, I was curious to see how we would fare," said Ranieri. "Now I am just as interested to see how we cope in the Champions League. It's been a long wait for some of these players but our determination and motivation are right. We have plenty of new players but we also have players with a wealth of experience at this level, players who have been an important part of the history of this club. They are more than ready."

Amauri winnerTwo of those seasoned performers, Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet, missed Sunday's 1-0 success against Udinese Calcio as Ranieri partnered Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta in attack. His decision paid off as Amauri scored the 68th-minute winner, yet Ranieri revealed he would be turning to the combined experience of 65 UEFA Champions League goals in 130 games, embodied by Del Piero and Trezeguet, from the start in Turin on Wednesday.

'Sacrifice'"The fact they are vastly experienced came into it but the main reason I have selected Del Piero and Trezeguet is what they sacrificed for the club. They had Serie A and European football snatched away from them but decided to stay here and work for two hard years to get their side back where it belongs. I have so much respect for them. This is the main reason I decided to give them the chance to play."

Zenit routJuve, who recover Giorgio Chiellini and Nicola Legrottaglie from injury, are unbeaten at home in the initial group stage in eight years, but know the threat of Zenit. Dick Advocaat's men won the Russian title and the UEFA Cup last term and last month lifted the UEFA Super Cup at Manchester United FC's expense. Although seventh in the Premier-Liga, Zenit enjoyed a third win in four matches on Saturday, defeating FC Terek Grozny 4-1. Andrei Arshavin contributed a goal and an assist for Ivica Križanac before Pavel Pogrebnyak and Konstantin Zyryanov completed the rout.

Fleeting visit"We respect Juventus," said Zenit coach Advocaat, who flew into Italy by private jet on Sunday to recce the opposition. "But it's never good to fear anyone. We know their danger men but, hopefully for them, they know ours too." After spending €30m on Danny and going to great lengths to keep Arshavin, there is nothing obscure about Zenit's leading lights. "I could have bought four players for €10m each, but I chose to buy Danny for €30 and you'll see why," added Advocaat, who also hinted at changes to the lineup that beat Terek.